Bladder-Containing Wall Assemblies for Dynamic Containment Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional containment berms lack the ability to dynamically increase fluid containment volume during spills, as they are limited by their fixed design and do not effectively utilize the hydrostatic pressure of accumulating fluids to expand their capacity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a bladder-containing wall assembly with an interior volume and inlet ports that self-deploy upon a spill, allowing the bladder to unfurl and increase the containment volume by communicating with the interior of the berm, which can be integrated into both permanent and portable containment systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional containment berms use fixed design structures, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but the fluid containment volume cannot be dynamically increased during spills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment volumeVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The containment system transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic expandable structure by incorporating a bladder that can inflate and deflate. The bladder is stored in a housing and deploys when needed, allowing the containment volume to change dynamically based on spill conditions while maintaining structural simplicity when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder is nested within a housing structure that is integrated into the containment berm wall assembly. The housing contains the collapsed bladder and provides a compact storage solution, allowing the expandable containment volume to be housed within the existing structural footprint, thus increasing volume without proportionally increasing overall device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the containment berm is designed for permanent use with fixed walls, then structural stability is high, but adaptability to varying spill volumes is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to spill volumesVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains the stable fixed wall structure for permanent containment needs while adding a dynamic bladder component that can inflate to accommodate varying spill volumes. The bladder is anchored to the fixed structure, ensuring that adaptability is achieved without compromising the reliability and structural stability of the permanent containment system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The containment system is segmented into fixed structural components (walls, housing) and a flexible functional component (bladder). This segmentation allows the fixed portions to provide structural stability and reliability, while the flexible bladder portion provides adaptability to different spill volumes, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If portable containment berms use collapsible structures, then portability is improved, but the ability to maintain containment volume during spills is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment volumeVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder is nested within the housing structure of the portable containment berm, allowing the expandable volume mechanism to be integrated into the portable design. When collapsed, the bladder occupies minimal space within the housing, maintaining portability. When deployed, it expands to provide increased containment volume, thus resolving the contradiction between portability and containment capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder is constructed from flexible material that can be easily folded and compressed for portability while maintaining structural integrity when inflated. This flexible shell approach allows the containment system to be easily transported and stored in a compact state while providing adequate containment volume when deployed, addressing both portability and volume requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bladder-containing wall assembly effectively enhances the fluid containment capacity of containment berms by utilizing hydrostatic pressure to deploy and expand, thereby preventing spills and increasing the overall containment volume without the need for additional structural modifications.

Implementation Method 1

The bladder self-deploys from the wall upon a substantial spill or leak inside the containment berm... by utilizing hydrostatic pressure to deploy and expand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrostatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS9181669B2Bladder-containing wall assemblies for containment berms

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 NEW PIG CORP

AI summary

A bladder-containing wall assembly for use in containment berms is disclosed. A bladder contained in the wall assembly communicates with the interior area of the containment berm via one or more inlet ports. The bladder self-deploys from the wall upon a substantial spill or leak inside the containment berm in order to increase the fluid containment volume of the containment device. The bladder-containing wall assembly may be substituted for a wall section of either permanent or portable containment berms.